The data is correct at the end of December 2016 and is based on data collected to compile our Brewery List.

The last in this series of articles is combining all the brewery data from each state and territory giving an overall picture for the whole of Australia.

At the end of 2016 there were a total of 451 craft beer breweries where the oldest still open is Coopers Brewery, which opened in 1862. Although the oldest among the new wave is the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, which opened in 1986.

This represents a density of 2.4 breweries per 100,000 18+ adults, or there is one brewery for roughly every 41,500 people. Of all the states the least dense for breweries is Queensland with only one brewery per 75,500 people, whilst the most dense is Tasmania at one brewery per 15,500 people.

In terms of size, we’ve grouped them to align roughly with the CBIA criteria for size of brewery. This means that:

23% are contract, or gypsy brewers

45% are small breweries. These are the nano and pub breweries

24% are medium size. These are the micro-breweries producing between 50,000 and 300,000 litres per year

7% are large breweries. These are the ones that have a regional and national presence.

In the past five years the number of breweries has risen from 197 in 2011 to 451 at the end of 2016. An increase of 229%.